Question
We recently found out, after an ABR that our 4 year old son has a hearing loss in his right ear. This came as quite a surprise since his hearing tests at 8 months and 18 months were ''normal''. I had a normal pregnancy and delivery, no hearing loss in our families, and our son has had no illnesses. More than likely he was born deaf in that ear. What books or organizations can you suggest that I read/contact to help me in giving my son the best help he can get going forward in his life?
Answer
This is a wonderful question. You sound like an observant parent. Unilateral hearing loss can pose a variety of challenges for some children. Because of problems hearing in the presence of noise and hearing at a distance, some children with unilateral hearing loss have difficulty in school and in social situations. In a book that I wrote, Facilitating Hearing and Listening in Young Children, 2nd edition (1999), I discuss listening strategies and unilateral hearing loss, if you would like more details. The book can be obtained from the Alexander Graham Bell Association (www.agbell.org).
Has your audiologist recommended trying a hearing aid on your son's right ear? It might provide some benefit and is worth considering. Also, have you seen an Ear Nose Throat Specialist (ENT) to rule out any medical causes for the hearing loss? Your educational audiologist can provide information and support.
One school accommodation that I recommend is sound field amplification; the teacher wears a wireless microphone transmitter, and her voice is evenly distributed throughout the room via wall or ceiling-mounted loudspeakers. More information can be obtained from the Educational Audiology Association (www.edaud.org).
Dr. Carol Flexer has been a Professor of Audiology at the University of Akron for 23 years. She has written over a 100 articles, book chapters and books dealing with pediatric and educational audiology. She can be reached at cflexer@uakron.edu
Carol Flexer, PhD, CCC-A, LSLS Cert. AVT
The University of Akron and Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium & Listening and Spoken Language Consulting
Dr. Carol Flexer received her doctorate in audiology from Kent State University in 1982. She was at The University of Akron for 25 years as a Distinguished Professor of Audiology in the School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Special areas of expertise include pediatric and educational audiology. Dr. Flexer continues to lecture and consult extensively nationally and internationally about pediatric audiology issues. She has authored numerous publications and co-edited and authored ten books. Dr. Flexer is a past president of the Educational Audiology Association, a past president of the American Academy of Audiology, and a past-president of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Academy for Listening and Spoken Language.
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